Adjustable structures that frame or support pictures or panels of various dimensions

ABSTRACT

These structures have been designed for the purpose of easily framing or supporting pictures or panels, such as paintings, posters, prints, canvas, cardboard, photos, signs, etc. The primary goal in the design has been to embody several desirable features and advantages in a single frame, thereby producing the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;optimum&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; design. One of these features and advantages is the ability to frame panels which vary in all three dimensions-length, width, and thickness. This eliminates the need for the retailers to maintain a large inventory of section sizes, and eliminates the need for the customer to measure the exact dimensions of his panel. Other characteristics include the relative ease of assembly, low cost and attractive appearance. This is accomplished by providing 4 sides whose lengths may be adjusted by breaking, sawing, cutting, or otherwise severing, and by providing 4 corners which cover up any mismatch or ragged edges where the sides meet caused by the severing process. The corner pieces are also designed to provide structural integrity to the frame.

United States Patent 1 Thistlethwaite et al.

[ 51 Sept. 17, 1974 1 1 ADJUSTABLE STRUCTURES THAT FRAME OR SUPPORTPICTURES OR PANELS OF VARIOUS DIMENSIONS [76] Inventors: AlanThistlethwaite, 6708 Chew Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19119; ArthurWeissman, 3900 Ford Rd., Apt. 4-S, Philadelphia, Pa. 19131 [22] Filed:Sept. 7, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 287,058

[52] U.S. Cl. 40/155 [51] Int. Cl. G091 1/12 [58] Field 01 Search40/152, 154, 155, 156

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,901,902 3/1933 Draper40/154 1,904,318 4/1933 Lehere 40/154 2,639,530 5/1953 Merrill 40/1522,777,232 l/l957 Kulcike et a1. 40/155 3,384,987 5/1968 Prechtl 40/152.13,408,759 11/1968 Rotheraine et a1. 40/152 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 654,290 11/1928 France 40/155 718,355 1 1/1931 France40/154 321,429 5/1902 France 40/155 362,901 2/1921 Germany 40/11 PrimaryExaminerJoseph S. Reich Assistant ExaminerWenceslao J. ContrerasAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Dorfman, Herrell and Skillman 5 7 ABSTRACTThese structures have been designed for the purpose of easily framing orsupporting pictures or panels, such as paintings, posters, prints,canvas, cardboard, photos, signs, etc.

The primary goal in the design has been to embody several desirablefeatures and advantages in a single frame, thereby producing theoptimum" design. One of these features and advantages is the ability toframe panels which vary in all three dimensions-length, width, andthickness. This eliminates the need for the retailers to maintain alarge inventory of section sizes, and eliminates the need for thecustomer to measure the exact dimensions of his panel. Othercharacteristics include the relative ease of assembly, low cost andattractive appearance.

This is accomplished by providing 4 sides whose lengths may be adjustedby breaking, sawing, cutting, or otherwise severing, and by providing 4corners which cover up any mismatch or ragged edges where the sides meetcaused by the severing process. The corner pieces are also designed toprovide structural integrity to the frame.

1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures ADJUSTABLE STRUCTURES THAT FRAME OR SUPPORTPICTURES OR PANELS OF VARIOUS DIMENSIONS SUMMARY OF INVENTION One of theprincipal objects of this invention is to provide side structures forsecuring the edges of the panel that are inherently adjustable forvarious thickness panels, without any additional pieces or mechanicaladjustment. This is accomplished by means of flexible leaves which arepart of the side structures, that flex to accomodate panels of variousthicknesses.

Another object of this invention is that these side structures may beeasily severed at 45 angles in order to accommodate various length andwidth combinations of panels. This is accomplished by perforations,cuts, slits, or other means, (at 45 angles and spaced at severalconvenient intervals) to act as mitre guides for breaking, sawing,cutting, or otherwise severing the material.

Corner structures are provided to serve a two-fold purpose. The first isto provide structural support, rigidity, and torque resistance to theframe, especially in cases where the panel to be framed is particularlylarge and/ or thin, with no inherent rigidity of its own. The preferredmethod of accomplishing this is by means of male protrusions in thecorners which mate with complementary female indentations in the sideswith a press fit. Of course, any variation in the mating method whichuses frictional means or press fit methods may also be used. The secondpurpose of the corner structures is to cover and conceal any mismatchwhere the side structures meet, due to the innaccurate severing of theside structures.

An added feature exists in the design of the corner structures. If it isdesired that the frame be assembled so that the comer structures are notvisible, then that portion of the corner structure which would bevisible, may be broken or cut off and discarded, leaving only thatportion of thecomer structure necessary for support.

These features will become apparent in the detailed description and thefigures.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the visible portion of theassembled framing structure and panel with one corner structure removed.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of one corner portion of the rear of anassembled framing structure and panel.

FIG. 3 is a plane view of a section taken along line 33 of FIG. 1showing the cross section of one of the sides. FIG. 3' is identical toFIG. 3 except that it illustrates the flexing of the leaf structurebecause of a thicker panel. FIG. 3a is an isometric view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is a plane view of the rear of side structure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The preferred form of the structure isshown, however various modifications may be made within the scope of theclaims here to appended, without departing from the overall concept ofthe invention.

The preferred material for this structure is plastic, but any materialor combination of materials having suitable flexing, breaking, andappearance characteristics may be used. The material to be used wouldalso be determined by the ease of assembly, cost of manufacturing, andaesthetic appearance.

The invention consists of four comer structures 5 and four sidestructures 6. Although only the preferred design is shown, any variationof these structures having aesthetic appeal and functional form, may beused. The total assembled structure and panel 7 are shown in FIG. 1.

The side structures secure the panel 7 by means of a leaf 8, as shown inFIG. 3 and FIG. 3a. Although the form shown in the drawing uses only oneleaf, several leaves may be used. When thicker panels 7' are to beframed or supported, as shown in FIG. 3, the leaf concept assures thatthe portion of the frame which is visible after assembly will not flexor distort.

The side structures are cut, sawed, broken by hand, or otherwise severedto the proper length, by means of cuts or perforations 9 or other means,as shown in FIG. 4. These cuts or perforations are to be part of themanufacturing process, and are to be spaced at regular intervals at anangle of 45 to enable proper mating of the side structures at the comersof the total structure. If the side structures are severed in such amanner that the edges are ragged, the comer structures 5 will serve toconceal the roughness or mismatch 10, as shown in FIG. 1.

The corner structures provide structural rigidity to the total assemblyby means of protrusions 12 that mate with a press fit with indentationsor grooves 13 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. This mating is preferablyon the portion of the total structure that will not be seen, as shown inFIG. 2, but this is not mandatory, and other shapes and arrangements ofmating surfaces may be used.

If the cuts or perforations are used as a mitre guide for cutting, andthe sides meet perfectly, then the visible portion of the cornerstructures can be removed and discarded by cutting along line 11 in FIG.2. The

remaining portion of the corner structure will be used only forstructural rigidity.

As shown in FIG. 3, 3' and 3a, each of the side structures 6 comprisesan elongated member of generally tubular cross section having a baseportion adapted to bear against the wall or other support surface onwhich the frame is mounted. The grooves 13 are disposed in the baseportion to confront the wall or other support surface. Along theexternal edge of the base portion, an exposed sidewall extendsperpendicularly therefrom for a predetermined distance and terminates inan inturned flange providing a flat inwardly-directed surface adapted toengage the outer surface of the panel 7. The outwardly-directed surfaceof the flange is disposed at an acute angle to the exposed surface ofthe sidewall to provide a decorative effect. The leaf portion 8 extendsfrom the base portion substantially parallel to the sidewall from theinterior edge of the base portion. As

shown, the leaf portion 8 has an arcuate form terminating in a free endportion which overlaps and is biased toward the inwardly-directedsurface of the flange to resiliently clamp the peripheral margin of thepanel member 7 or 7' between the flange and the free end portion. Asshown, the elongated member 6 is prefera bly molded integrally of amaterial having a substantial thickness in the sidewall and flange and athinness in the resilient leaf portion 8. In the frame illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, the elongated side members 6 are straight and aredisposed at an angle to one another to form a polygonal frame, in thepresent instance a rectangular frame having right angles at each corner.The ends of the members 6 are mitered at a 45 angle as set forth above.The corner pieces 11 are arranged so that the protrusions 12 thereof areformed in legs which are disposed at right angles at one another to formthe 90 angles.

We claim:

1. A structure for framing or supporting any one panel member of aplurality of decorating panels of various thicknesses on a surfacecomprising a polygonal frame adapted to surround said panel to supportthe edges thereof, said frame comprising a plurality of straightelongated members of generally tubular cross section having a baseportion adapted to bear against the supporting surface, an exposedsidewall rigidly mounted on said base portion and extending outwardlytherefrom a predetermined distance, said sidewall terminating in aninturned flange rigidly mounted at the outer extremity thereof andproviding a flat inwardlydirected surface adapted to engage and supportthe outer surface of said decorative panel, said elongaged memberincluding a resilient flexible leaf portion extending from said baseportion substantially parallel to the exposed wall and continuingarcuately outward from said supporting surface and toward said exposedwall and terminating in a free end portion generally parallel to saidbase portion and underlying and biased toward the inwardly-directedsurface of said flange to a substantial degree to resiliently clamp theperipheral margin of said panel member between said flange and said freeend portion, said straight elongated members being disposed at an angleto one another, said base portion of each member is provided with a pairof parallel grooves extending longitudinally thereof to confront thesupporting surface, the ends of said members being mitered at a 45 angleand interconnected by corner pieces having a pair of protrusionsdisposed at right angles to each other and mating with and engaging inat least one of said grooves to interlock and provide structuralrigidity to the assembled structure.

1. A structure for framing or supporting any one panel member of aplurality of decorating panels of various thicknesses on a surfacecomprising a polygonal frame adapted to surround said panel to supportthe edges thereof, said frame comprising a plurality of straightelongated members of generally tubular cross section having a baseportion adapted to bear against the supporting surface, an exposedsidewall rigidly mounted on said base portion and extending outwardlytherefrom a predetermined distance, said sidewall terminating in aninturned flange rigidly mounted at the outer extremity thereof andproviding a flat inwardly-directed surface adapted to engage and supportthe outer surface of said decorative panel, said elongaged memberincluding a resilient flexible leaf portion extending from said baseportion substantially parallel to the exposed wall and continuingarcuately outward from said supporting surface and toward said exposedwall and terminating in a free end portion generally parallel to saidbase portion and underlying and biased toward the inwardly-directedsurface of said flange to a substantial degree to resiliently clamp theperipheral margin of said panel member between said flange and said freeend portion, said straight elongated members being disposed at an angleto one another, said base portion of each member is provided with a pairof parallel grooves extending longitudinally thereof to confront thesupporting surface, the ends of said members being mitered at a 45*angle and interconnected by corner pieces having a pair of protrusionsdisposed at right angles to each other and mating with and engaging inat least one of said grooves to interlock and provide structuralrigidity to the assembled structure.